A stalwart of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Buba Galadima, has defended former Kano State governor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, saying he was unfairly linked to the introduction of Sharia law and is now being politically targeted ahead of the 2027 elections.
Galadima made the remarks on Thursday during an interview on Arise TV’s The Morning Show, monitored by our correspondent, following reports that the United States Congress received a proposed bill seeking sanctions against Kwankwaso and certain groups over alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
The proposed legislation is said to recommend punitive measures against individuals accused of supporting the implementation of Sharia law, which critics claim encouraged religious extremism and violence in parts of the country.
Reacting to the development, Galadima described the move as unjust and politically driven.
“I think that is most unfair to Kwankwaso and his integrity as a peaceful Nigerian. What we see is the intrigues of election 2027,” he said.
He argued that Kwankwaso’s perceived interest in the 2027 presidential race has made him a target for political opponents determined to weaken his chances.
According to Galadima, there had been widespread speculation that Kwankwaso could face arrest if he declined to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC), with anti-graft agencies allegedly poised to go after him.
“We know, we were told, there were rumours all over that Kwankwaso is going to be arrested if he refuses to defect to the APC, and that EFCC and ICPC will look for him. Surprisingly, the matter came offshore in the US. And we wonder, from where did they get that story?” he said.
Addressing claims that Kwankwaso initiated Sharia in Kano during his tenure, Galadima insisted the former governor did not originate the policy.
He stated that the Kano State House of Assembly adopted Sharia under intense political pressure and that Kwankwaso was among the last northern governors to implement it.
Galadima further maintained that Kwankwaso had consistently safeguarded minority communities in Kano despite the state’s complex political and religious dynamics.
“People should remember that Kwankwaso was reluctant and was about the last governor in Nigeria to implement Sharia law. Shekarau used that platform of Sharia, that he was coming to do Sharia and that Kwankwaso was not doing Sharia according to the dictates. That was how Shekarau became the governor of Kano State,” he said.
He added that singling out Kwankwaso while overlooking others involved in the broader Sharia debate amounts to political manoeuvring aimed at sidelining him from future contests.
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